Gender disparities persist in rural Lesotho where customary laws often limit women's rights. Legal empowerment initiatives aimed at enhancing gender justice are nascent and could benefit from a deeper understanding of community dynamics. This mixed methods study combines qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys to assess women's perceptions and experiences regarding legal empowerment. Data collection was conducted in two rural districts of Lesotho. Women reported significant barriers to accessing justice, including language and cultural obstacles. However, they showed strong interest in legal education programmes that could help bridge these gaps and empower them legally. Legal empowerment initiatives need to be culturally sensitive and inclusive to effectively support rural women's rights under customary law. Tailored educational interventions are recommended based on local needs. Programmes should incorporate gender-specific training for community leaders, involve traditional healers in legal education, and provide multilingual resources to reach a broader audience.
Gibbons et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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